The National Association of Black Journalists expresses concern with the decision by prosecutors in St. Louis County, Mo. to charge Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post with trespassing and interfering with a police officer.

The charges stem from an incident that took place as Lowery, 25, was in Ferguson, Mo. in 2014 to report on the shooting death of MichaelBrown, a black teen, by a white police officer.

"Reporters have every right to do their jobs, pursue the truth andpublish it," NABJ President Sarah Glover said.

The association is troubled by the action taken by prosecutors and believe itto be a direct assault on the free exercise of the First Amendment,which ensuresjournalists can practice their craft. Journalists understand citizens,including journalists, must respect the rule of law, but as theSupreme Court of the United States noted in its 1972 decision inBranzburg v. Hayes,"... without some protection for seeking out thenews, freedom of the press could be eviscerated."

The organization believes Lowery acted reasonably in pursuit of newsand information needed by the public in the aftermath of the shootingdeath ofBrown and in light of ensuing unrest in Ferguson. The initial decisionto release Lowery without filing charges also suggests thatauthorities themselves believed that his initial arrest could havebeen an abuse of power and discretion. The organization encourageslocal officials to drop the charges filed againstLowery so journalists can operate without fear that doing their jobswill lead to them being jailed.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is thelargest organization for journalists of color in the nation, andprovides career development as well as educational and other supportto its members worldwide.